Girl Meets World: "Girl Meets Yearbook"Review

This week's Girl Meets World was firing on all cylinders -- and wouldn't you know it, it had nothing to do with Boy Meets World callbacks! In "Girl Meets Yearbook," the spotlight was squarely on the core four, and they were all at their best as they took on different personalities. Well, all except for Lucas, who actually had some very humorous moments playing the straight man of the group. ("Is this a New York thing, or... what is this?")

At its core this episode was pretty typical, but the various aspects all worked so well. Even Cory's Iceland/Greenland lesson tied in nicely to what was going on with the kids. Of course, the crux here was the yearbook itself, which delved into a very interesting dynamic -- one I think a lot of viewers have noticed -- and that was Lucas and Maya's undeniable chemistry. Not only did it address a very obvious part of the show, but it also served as a good launchpad for Riley, Farkle and Maya's alter egos to emerge.

Like mother, like daughter's angst-ridden best friend.

"Dark Riley," for example, was an absolute hoot, from the moment Topanga walked in asking, "Hey Riley, funny question, have you seen everything black I own--oh, hey, look at you!" Also amusing were Farkle's "Donnie Barnes, regular guy" ("I'd see that movie!") and Maya's version of Riley -- although I think Katy wins the award for best Riley impersonator. Speaking of whom, her scene with Topanga was short, but I quite enjoyed their conversation about doing impressions and Katy not being able to do a good Shawn.

"Girl Meets Yearbook" was also thoroughly funny. In fact, I found myself transcribing almost every other line in my notes, hoping to reference it. Kudos to the writers for relying on wit and character for humor rather than wacky set pieces or over-the-top sight gags. In terms of standalone episodes, especially ones centered around the four main kids, this one was a joy to watch -- including a particularly notable subplot for Farkle, who seems to be growing up.

The Verdict

One good thing about "Girl Meets Yearbook" was that it didn't need Boy Meets World nostalgia to fuel its fire (although Topanga's Cory/celery reference was a nice touch). In addition to featuring solid story arcs for all four main characters, it was consistently funny and smart.

Max Nicholson is a writer for IGN, and he desperately seeks your approval. Show him some love by following @Max_Nicholson on Twitter or MaxNicholson on IGN.